Anti-explosive attachment for dry-cleaning tumblers



H. J. GELHAAR. ANTI-EXPLOSWE ATTACHMENT FOR DRY CLEANING TUM BLERS.

Patented JuTy 15, 1m.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7. I918- 1 INVENTOR EJU////Zlf ATT UNITED STATES PATEN HARRY J. GELI-IAAR, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 LOYD J'. SEIBERT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ANTI-EXPLOSIVE ATTACHMENT FOR DRY-CLEANING TUMBLERS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed December 7, 1918. Serial No. 265,802.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. GELHAAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements: in Anti Explosive Attachments for Dry-Cleanin Tumblers, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to anti-explosive attachments for. dry cleaning tumblers. It occasionally happens that the contents of dry cleaning tumblers are scorched through fire occurring in the tumblers and some times more seriously damaged because of explosions therein, and attempts have been made to provide means to prevent such fires by utilizing steam and moistening the contents of the drum, and attempts have also been made to utilize steam to extinguish fires. As far as applicant can learn the use of steam for moistening the contents of the drum has not been successful in preventing fires, and while steam may be employed for extinguishing fires it does not serve to prevent the scorching of or other serious damage to the contents of the drum.

My special object therefore is to provide means for utilizing steam to prevent fires in the drum by moistening the lint and other fine particles extracted from the contents of the drum so that the same cannot take fire, and then utilize the steam dried by the ex-' traction of the moisture therefrom by the lint and the like, to facilitate the drying of the contents of the drum by driving off the fumes arising therefrom.

With the objects named in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of a conventional type of dry cleaning tumbler, equipped with an attachment embodying my invention, the shell of the tumbler being broken awa to expose the internal construction thereo Fig. 2, isa central vertical cross section of the machine, with the heating coil thereof in elevation.

In the said drawing, 1 indicates a dry cleaning tumbler of conventional type, comprising the cylindrical body portion 2 mounted at its ends in frames 3, the underlylng heating chamber 4, the steam heating coil 5 in said chamber, the forarninous drum 6 journaled in the body portion 2, and 7 is the shaft for oscillating said drum, the special mechanism for imparting movement to the shaft being omitted as showing no novel portion of the machine. The body portion is provided with the tubular discharge arm 8 for connection with a suction pipe not shown.

9 is a steam supply pipe, 10 is a header connected to said pipe and also connected to one end of the heating coil 5 for and located in the heating chamber 4, and secured to said header and arranged with the tumbler at the upper end of the heating chamber 4, are perforated steam pipes 11, Fig. 1 adapted to discharge steam downwardly into the heating chamber and moisten the lint and other foreign material which is extracted from the contents of the foraminous drum and passes down from the same into the heating chamber. The lint and the like is thus dampened and absorbs some of the steam from said pipes 11, the dry steam being further heated by contact with the steam coil and being drawn upwardly therefrom through and around the drum and the contents thereof and through the tubular arm 8 of the body portion. In this passage the dry steam facilitates the drying of the contents of the drum in a marked degree, and carries off the gasolene fumes from the contents of the drum.

This apparatus has been in practical service in a number of plants for some time and has demonstrated its value in preventing fires and consequent injury to the contents of the drums, this result being due to the fact that the moisture from the steam is absorbed by the foreign particles so that the same cannot take fire because of the heat in the heating chamber and that the dry steam passes up through and around the drum and the contents thereof and thereby facilitates the drying operation by driving ed the gasolene fumes more effectually and more quickly, than would be possible if dry steam was not employed.

' From the above description it will be apparent that I ha e invented an apparatus of the character described which possesses all of the features of advantage pointed out, and I wish it to be understood that I reserve the right to all changes falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. The combination with a dry cleaning tumbler comprising a body portion, a heating chamber underlying the same, and a foraminous drum within the body portion, of a steam supply pipe arranged in the tu'mbler below the said drum and provided with jet openings for discharging steam downwardly into said heating chamber; said body portion having a discharge arm above the drum for the escape of dry steam and gasolene fumes driven ofi by such steam from articles within said drum.

2. The combination with a dry cleaning tumbler, comprising, a body portion, a heating chamber underlying the body portion, and a heating coil within the heating chamber, of a plurality of steam pipes extending longitudinally of the tumbler below said drum and above said heating coil, and provided with jet openings for discharging steam downwardly into said heating chamber and upon said heating coil; said body portion having a tubular discharge arm above the said drum.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

HARRY J. 'GELHAAR. 

